Book-Related Podcasts Are a Great Tool to Explore Reading

Published: Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at 3:34 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at 3:34 p.m.

Podcasts have been around for years. I would guess that, by now, there are podcasts to cover just about any topic.

Podcasts can be delivered to any computing device connected to the Internet.

There are plenty of book-related podcasts you can try such as Lake Wales Public Library has a link to a podcast that covers teen reading, on their Youth Services page (www.cityoflakewales.com/library/youthservices). The podcast provides a site for teens to post their audio reviews of books they've read.

Go to podgallery.org/firesidebookchat and click on any of the links to start listening.

At the libraries:

AUBURNDALE

Story Time meets 10:30 a.m. today for age 2 and 10:30 a.m. Thursday for ages 3-5; this week: "Bells are Ringing!"

BARTOW

Food for Fines program begins Monday and continues through Dec. 20. Proceeds benefit the Bartow Church Service Center. Exchange non-perishable, unexpired, food items and pay overdue fines. Regrets, lost or damaged fees are excluded from this program. Call 534-0131.

Food for Fines continues through December; exchange non-perishable food items and pay overdue fines. Regrets, lost or damaged fees are excluded from this program. Call 635-7857 for more information.

HAINES CITY

Story time meets 10:30 a.m. today, also 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesday, for stories, songs and fun. Today's program is "Aaaa-choo!!" Tuesday's program is "Let's Fly!"

Friends of the Library Book Sale today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the lobby.

Story time Bubbles & Bounces for babies to age 2 meets 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

Lego Club meets 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

English/Spanish story time meets 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

Elementary Book Club meets 4 p.m. Monday to discuss "Quake! Disaster in San Francisco, 1906" by Gail Langer Karwoski.

Welcome to students, parents and teachers of Eastside Elementary School 5-7 p.m. Monday. Get to know your library; there will be door prizes, crafts and opportunities to get library cards and check out books, movies and more, including a story time program. Parents may sign up for a $25 gift card drawing compliments of the Friends of the Library.

Stop in 10:30 a.m. Tuesday for Adult Games in the Community Room.

LAKE ALFRED

Friends of the Library book sale 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

Free computer class 2 p.m. Thursday and 2 p.m. Monday.

The Polk Works Mobile One-Stop will be at the library 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday. The bus provides computer and internet based assessments, tutorials, job search and unemployment service at no cost to users.

Jewelry-making class with Kate Lehne meets 4 p.m. Tuesday.

LAKE WALES

The Lake Wales Library Association/Friends of the Library invite businesses, organizations and individuals to the annual Giving Tree fund drive. Take an ornament and help buy books and materials for the library based on the need identified on the ornament, for as little as $5. Call 678-4004 for more information.

The library received a donation of a handmade Christmas tree skirt. The skirt will be raffled off Dec. 21, tickets $1.

Food for Fines continues through December; exchange non-perishable food items and pay overdue fines. Regrets, lost or damaged fees are excluded from this program. Call 678-4004 for more information.

Wiggles and Giggles story time meets 11 a.m. Tuesday. Designed for walking toddlers up to age 3.

Library Babies meets 11:30 a.m. Tuesday for a lap-sit story time.

Cameos Memoirs Writing Group meets 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Movie Day 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

LAKELAND

Free one-on-one tutoring at the Main Library, 834-4265. Tutoring is offered at the Larry R. Jackson Branch Library as well, 834-4288.

Toddler Time meets 10:30 a.m. today.

Story time meets 10:30 a.m. today.

Books Sandwiched In book discussion group meets 12:15 p.m. today at the Larry R. Jackson Branch Library. Librarian Brenda Patterson leads a discussion of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis.

Kid's Korner 1:30 p.m. today at the Main Library. Meet special guest Junie B. Jones and listen in as she reads a chapter from her book "Jingle Bells, Batman Smells."

Mother Goose Time meets 11 a.m. Thursday.

Discussions at the E book discussion group meets 12:15 p.m. Thursday at the E-Library in South Lakeland to discuss "Voltaire's Calligrapher" by Pablo DeSantis.

Folk/Celtic band Mrs. Murphy's Chowder performs 2 p.m. Sunday at the Main Library. The hour-long concert features music from Ireland, Scotland and the British Isles.

Preschool story time meets 10 a.m. Tuesday.

Computer class Internet Basics meets 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Main Library. There is a $5, non-refundable, fee due at registration.

MULBERRY

Food for Fines continues through December; exchange non-perishable food items and pay overdue fines, $1 per food item, and food must be unexpired. Lost or damaged fees are excluded. Call 425-3246 for more information.

Kids, come to the library after school for Crafternoons 3:30 p.m. Monday.

Lego Club meets 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

POLK CITY

Visit the library for make and take crafts after school, 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

Lego Club meets 3:30 p.m. Monday; for elementary school age builders.

The library hosts a special guest 3:30 p.m. Tuesday when Santa Claus comes to visit! Bring your child for a holiday picture (pickup Dec. 16); pictures are free. This program includes refreshments, crafts for children, lots of free giveaways and door prizes, and is librarians Linda's and Suzette's "Thank You!" to the Polk City community.

WINTER HAVEN

Little Sprouts story time meets 11 a.m. today and Tuesday..

Chit, Chat, and Interact meets 11:30 a.m. today and Tuesday.

Reading Education and Development class meets 10 a.m. Saturday for Auditory Processing Disorder. The R.E.A.D. Series is an educational program designed to offer information and resources to the public regarding educational issues. Contact Lynda McCartney for information, 293-6172.

<p>Podcasts have been around for years. I would guess that, by now, there are podcasts to cover just about any topic.</p><p>Podcasts can be delivered to any computing device connected to the Internet.</p><p>There are plenty of book-related podcasts you can try such as Lake Wales Public Library has a link to a podcast that covers teen reading, on their Youth Services page (www.cityoflakewales.com/library/youthservices). The podcast provides a site for teens to post their audio reviews of books they've read.</p><p>Go to podgallery.org/firesidebookchat and click on any of the links to start listening.</p><p>At the libraries:</p><p><b>AUBURNDALE</b></p><p>Story Time meets 10:30 a.m. today for age 2 and 10:30 a.m. Thursday for ages 3-5; this week: "Bells are Ringing!"</p><p><b>BARTOW</b></p><p>Food for Fines program begins Monday and continues through Dec. 20. Proceeds benefit the Bartow Church Service Center. Exchange non-perishable, unexpired, food items and pay overdue fines. Regrets, lost or damaged fees are excluded from this program. Call 534-0131.</p><p>An English Tutoring class for non-native speakers meets 6 p.m. Thursday. Call 534-0131 to sign up.</p><p><b>DUNDEE</b></p><p>Preschool Story Time meets 10 a.m. today and Friday. This week: "Somewhere over the Rainbow."</p><p><b>EAGLE LAKE</b></p><p>Computer skills class meets 11 a.m. today. There is a $10 refundable deposit due at registration. Call 293-2914 for more information.</p><p><b>FROSTPROOF</b></p><p>Preschool P.A.L.S. (Play and Learn Story time) meets 10 a.m. today for stories, sing-alongs, rhymes and a craft activity. This week is "It's Christmas Time!"</p><p>Food for Fines continues through December; exchange non-perishable food items and pay overdue fines. Regrets, lost or damaged fees are excluded from this program. Call 635-7857 for more information.</p><p><b>HAINES CITY</b></p><p>Story time meets 10:30 a.m. today, also 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesday, for stories, songs and fun. Today's program is "Aaaa-choo!!" Tuesday's program is "Let's Fly!"</p><p>Friends of the Library Book Sale today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the lobby.</p><p>Story time Bubbles &amp; Bounces for babies to age 2 meets 10:30 a.m. Thursday.</p><p>Lego Club meets 3:30 p.m. Thursday.</p><p>English/Spanish story time meets 10:30 a.m. Saturday.</p><p>Elementary Book Club meets 4 p.m. Monday to discuss "Quake! Disaster in San Francisco, 1906" by Gail Langer Karwoski.</p><p>Welcome to students, parents and teachers of Eastside Elementary School 5-7 p.m. Monday. Get to know your library; there will be door prizes, crafts and opportunities to get library cards and check out books, movies and more, including a story time program. Parents may sign up for a $25 gift card drawing compliments of the Friends of the Library.</p><p>Stop in 10:30 a.m. Tuesday for Adult Games in the Community Room.</p><p><b>LAKE ALFRED</b></p><p>Friends of the Library book sale 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.</p><p>Free computer class 2 p.m. Thursday and 2 p.m. Monday.</p><p>The Polk Works Mobile One-Stop will be at the library 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday. The bus provides computer and internet based assessments, tutorials, job search and unemployment service at no cost to users.</p><p>Jewelry-making class with Kate Lehne meets 4 p.m. Tuesday.</p><p><b>LAKE WALES</b></p><p>The Lake Wales Library Association/Friends of the Library invite businesses, organizations and individuals to the annual Giving Tree fund drive. Take an ornament and help buy books and materials for the library based on the need identified on the ornament, for as little as $5. Call 678-4004 for more information.</p><p>The library received a donation of a handmade Christmas tree skirt. The skirt will be raffled off Dec. 21, tickets $1.</p><p>Food for Fines continues through December; exchange non-perishable food items and pay overdue fines. Regrets, lost or damaged fees are excluded from this program. Call 678-4004 for more information.</p><p>Chess for Kids meets 2 p.m. Tuesday.</p><p>Fourth Thursday Book Discussion Group meets 11 a.m. Thursday to discuss "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott.</p><p>E-reader support group meets 2:30 p.m. Thursday.</p><p>The Dr. J. A. Wiltshire Foundation presents a free genealogy class 11:30 a.m. Friday.</p><p>Teen Knitting and Crochet meets 3:30 p.m. Friday.</p><p>Open Knitting and Crochet meets 5:30 p.m. Friday.</p><p>Magic: the Gathering card game tournament 1 p.m. Saturday for teens.</p><p>Craft Day for kids all day Monday in Youth Services.</p><p>Wiggles and Giggles story time meets 11 a.m. Tuesday. Designed for walking toddlers up to age 3.</p><p>Library Babies meets 11:30 a.m. Tuesday for a lap-sit story time.</p><p>Cameos Memoirs Writing Group meets 2 p.m. Tuesday.</p><p>Movie Day 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.</p><p><b>LAKELAND</b></p><p>Free one-on-one tutoring at the Main Library, 834-4265. Tutoring is offered at the Larry R. Jackson Branch Library as well, 834-4288.</p><p>Toddler Time meets 10:30 a.m. today.</p><p>Story time meets 10:30 a.m. today.</p><p>Books Sandwiched In book discussion group meets 12:15 p.m. today at the Larry R. Jackson Branch Library. Librarian Brenda Patterson leads a discussion of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis.</p><p>Kid's Korner 1:30 p.m. today at the Main Library. Meet special guest Junie B. Jones and listen in as she reads a chapter from her book "Jingle Bells, Batman Smells."</p><p>Mother Goose Time meets 11 a.m. Thursday.</p><p>Discussions at the E book discussion group meets 12:15 p.m. Thursday at the E-Library in South Lakeland to discuss "Voltaire's Calligrapher" by Pablo DeSantis.</p><p>Folk/Celtic band Mrs. Murphy's Chowder performs 2 p.m. Sunday at the Main Library. The hour-long concert features music from Ireland, Scotland and the British Isles.</p><p>Preschool story time meets 10 a.m. Tuesday.</p><p>Computer class Internet Basics meets 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Main Library. There is a $5, non-refundable, fee due at registration.</p><p><b>MULBERRY</b></p><p>Food for Fines continues through December; exchange non-perishable food items and pay overdue fines, $1 per food item, and food must be unexpired. Lost or damaged fees are excluded. Call 425-3246 for more information.</p><p>Preschool Story Time meets 10:30 a.m. today for ages 3-5.</p><p>Teen/Tween time meets 4 p.m. Thursday: make your own Christmas ornaments.</p><p>Patron Cookie exchange Friday. Bring in three dozen of your home-baked cookies and swap with others.</p><p>Free computer class MS Word Basics meets 11 a.m. Monday. Please pre-register, call 425-3246 for more information.</p><p>Kids, come to the library after school for Crafternoons 3:30 p.m. Monday.</p><p>Lego Club meets 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.</p><p><b>POLK CITY</b></p><p>Visit the library for make and take crafts after school, 3:30 p.m. Thursday.</p><p>Lego Club meets 3:30 p.m. Monday; for elementary school age builders.</p><p>The library hosts a special guest 3:30 p.m. Tuesday when Santa Claus comes to visit! Bring your child for a holiday picture (pickup Dec. 16); pictures are free. This program includes refreshments, crafts for children, lots of free giveaways and door prizes, and is librarians Linda's and Suzette's "Thank You!" to the Polk City community.</p><p><b>WINTER HAVEN</b></p><p>Little Sprouts story time meets 11 a.m. today and Tuesday..</p><p>Chit, Chat, and Interact meets 11:30 a.m. today and Tuesday.</p><p>Reading Education and Development class meets 10 a.m. Saturday for Auditory Processing Disorder. The R.E.A.D. Series is an educational program designed to offer information and resources to the public regarding educational issues. Contact Lynda McCartney for information, 293-6172.</p><p>[ Send your library news to varrick.nunez@gmail.com. ]</p>